The basic role of parents is to keep their kids happy, healthy, and thriving. They have to open opportunities for their kids to reach their dreams. They have to provide a shelter that will keep them safe from all kinds of physical, emotional, mental, and psychological harm. Do you know that your home can be a breeding ground for many kinds of toxins and that millions of kids are exposed to these toxins every year? Aside from that, more than three million kids get hurt at home each year.
Since kids spend 90% of their time in their homes, especially because of the COVID-19, you have to make sure your home is a haven. This is where they can seek refuge. This is the safest place on Earth for them. How can you do that? How can you turn your home into a sanctuary from the dangers outside?
Pest and Insect Control
Insect bites can trigger allergies. They also bring a lot of diseases. It’s important to have your home fumigated every year. You have to spend on termite, pest, and mosquito control services say the experts at Mosquito Authority. These services will ensure your house is free from insects that can cause allergies and diseases.
Mold Removal
Every so often, call a mold remediation company. Mold and mildew grow in your home because many areas are cold, dark, and damp. Mold loves these areas. Your bathroom, kitchen, basement, and attic are all breeding grounds for mold. If you notice that you are having respiratory problems lately, try to look for these areas that could have mold and mildew already.
Bedbugs
Check your kids’ beds. Since when have you been using this bed? Bedbugs can grow unnoticed in your beds. If you seem to feel itchy after even a restful night of sleep, check if your mattress has bedbugs. You will know this if there are tiny blood marks on your mattress. These are signs of an infestation of bedbugs. You either have to get someone to clean your kids’ mattresses professionally, or you can simply throw them away and buy a new one. Generally, don’t go beyond seven years without replacing your mattress.
Water Heater Control
Scalding is a very serious issue in homes with kids. Always make sure to keep your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything beyond that will be too hot for the kids. Don’t leave them alone in the bathtub because they might open the tap and get burned by the hot water. Test the water temperature before placing your kids in the tub, and don’t leave them there.
Window Guards
Do you know that more than 4,000 kids end up in the emergency room every year because of falling out of a window? Toddlers can be so curious as to open the window wide and look over. They can lose their balance and fall. Aside from that, babies and toddlers can get strangled by cords on blinds and shades. Move their beds and cribs away from the window. You can also install window guards so the windows will only open at a maximum of four inches, making falling impossible. Don’t worry because you can unclip these guards when needed (in case of a fire and you need to use the windows to escape).
Baby Gates
Install wall-mounted baby gates on the top and bottom of the staircase. This could not be emphasized enough, and it doesn’t need an explanation. Babies and toddlers are starting to crawl and walk. They will lose their balance. Do not leave them alone when they’re at this stage. Also, put cushions on the corners and edges of the tables because they can hit these when they fall or topple over.
Lead Paint and Radon Gas
If your home was built in the 70s, there’s probably lead underneath the topcoats of your walls and floors. Call a contractor to have this removed. The toxic particles can affect your kids’ learning and development. You have to find someone certified to remove lead and other toxic materials from old home construction.
You can also call someone to test the radon gas level in your home because it is believed to be the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. However, you won’t know if there’s radon gas in your home because you cannot see or smell it. Fortunately, an inexpensive testing kit will assess the level of radon gas in your home.
Your kids’ safety and health needs will change as they grow up. Keeping up with these needs is another challenge. However, it only gets easier from their toddler years because slowly, it’ll be easier to explain these things to them.